Surgical splint



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.I. ELLIVOOD LEE, OF GONSHOHOCKEN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SURGICAL SPLlNT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,942, dated June 14,1887.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. ELLwooD LEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oonshohocken, lilontgomery county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Surgical Splints, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a simple and inexpensive joint for two-part surgical splints, such as will permit the two parts of the splint to be applied to the limbs in different relative positions and maintain these positions without the use of screws, clamps, or hinges, and such as will also allow the parts of the splint to be used separately, when desired, and that without interfering with the convenient application of bandages.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is.

a view showing the application of my improved two-part jointed split to the arm and forearm, substantially at right angles to each other. Fig. 2 is a 'view showing the parts on a larger scale and adjusted for use when the arm and forearm are to be held at an angle of about forty-five degrees. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the parts adjusted for application to the arm and forearm when they are to be held straight. Fig. 4 is a view showing the arrangement of the two parts of the splint when they are to be ap plied posterior-1y; and Fig. 5 is a view showing different forms of jointpins.

Two-part splints as usually constructed for application to either the arm or leg are connected to each other by means of a hinge-joint, which necessitates the use of screw-clamps to hold them in the positions to which the parts Such hinges are more or less expensive, and interfere to a greater or less extent with the use of either part of the splint separately, owing to the presence of the parts of the hinges and screws, which also prevent convenient bandaging. I meet these difficulties by employing the simple form ofjoint consisting of a longitudinal socket, a, on each part A of the splint, in combination with a number ofseparable pins, 1), ofditferent angles.

One pin, Fig. 1. is shown as bent to a right angle, another, Figs. 2 and 4, at about an angle of forty-five degrees, while the third is shown as at an angle ofone hundred and eighty degrees, or straight, so that the two parts of an arm or leg may be held in any one of these positions by the use of the corresponding form of con nectingpin Z) in the sockets 0f the splints.

In the drawings I have shown the splints as constructed of thin perforated trough-shaped metal, which is transversely pliable to conform easily to the arm or leg, as the case may be. The splints illustrated are intended for application to the arm and forearm, and may be applied either anteriorly, as shown in Fig. 1, or posteriorly, as in Fig. 4.

Another advantage of the described joint for two part splints is that the splint A, for instance, can be fitted somewhat to one side of the upper part of the arm, if desired, as shown in Fig. 1, instead of necessarily keeping the two parts in line, as where a hinged joint is used.

My invention, it will be understood, is ap plicable to leg-splints as well as armsplints. The splints described are of course to be bound to the limbs with bandages, and it will be evident that the improved joint intcrfercs to the least possible extent with the bandaging, whether the two parts he used together with the joint or separately. I prefer to form the soelc ets u, out of metal straps a, which are riveted or otherwise secured to those endsotthe splints which are to adjoin, as illustrated.

I claim as my invention The herein-described two-part splint, con sisting of two parts having sockets and (litterent-angled connecting-pins to be adapted to the sockets, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. ELLWOOD LEE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM D. CUNNER, H ARRY SMrrn. 

